Wednesday, April 4, 2012

CHHATRAPATI SHAHU JI MAHARAJ

(1874-1922)

Rajarshi Chhatrapati
ShahuJi Maharaj was king of the Indian princely State of Kolhapur known to be a great social reformer of his time.
Shahu Ji was a staunch follower of
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and great admirerof Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Shahu Ji belonged to Oil
presser “Teli” caste but devoted his
life for the upliftment
of theDalit society. He challenge the
Brahmanical supremacy in administration and on 26th
July 1902 by sanctioning 50% Reservation for the backward Classes in Kohlapur
StateServicesThis wasagainst the tough opposition from upper casteBrahmin Ministers who numbered

over 98% in administration against 3% share in
population of Brahmins in the state. He
assertedhis full
authority over his kingdom and took a number of welfare schemes for the
depressed class peoples As per his
renowned biographer Shri A.B. Latthe “He was greatest Maharaja that ever sat on
the thrown of Kohlapur and one of the powerful men that the nation ever
produced in its long& Brilliant history”. Chhatarpati Sahu Ji Maharaj’s
concern for good administration can be judged from his statement “Although I am
on the throne of Kohlapur, I feel proud to call myself as solider, farmer or
labourer . while addressing meeting in
Madras he said “ I am here not as king but friend to those whose pitiable
condition shall melt even a stone
hearted person . He
passed laws to allow training of non-Brahmin men as temple priests along with
declaring religious places properties as Kohlapur State properties. He ordered
that the appointment of Shankaachariyas in future shall be with Kohlapur State
authority.He abolished Kulkarni system
and appointed Kshatra Jagadguru ringing a bell of reasons and secularism
forHis subjects. He approved conducting
of marriages with out a Brahmin priest. He promoted inter caste marriages among his
subjects. However it created ill will towards
Maharaja by irrational thinking superstitious Brahmins who were supported by Lokmanya
Tilak and some others. While opposing right of higher Education to Bachward
Classes, Tilak is on record to have said in one of his speech dated
11November,1917( Javatmal Maharathtra) “ would the tailors use sewing machine,
the peasants their plough and the merchants the scale of balance in the
council” Tilak & congress party was for the Bachward classes peopled to
follow their ancestral trades, where only elementary education needed.
Determined to implement his egalitarian thoughts so was prepared to face all his adversaries
opposing them. On 15 April,1920 Chhatarpati
Sahu Ji Maharaj replied thus to Tilak, “ Tilak would have been ashamed
of expressing such thoughts in his
speech Brahmin V/s Brahmantra. Tilak advised untouchables not to take secondary
education after primary educatioin. He wanted them to learn them to learn the
crafts of their castes, thus he believed in constitution of the caste
profession for the untouchables and not in giving them the higher education to
them “However Maharaja was not against Brahmins but Brahmanism and Brahmanical
ways and their half hearted reforms. so many good hearted Brahminslike V.D. Topkhane, Gopal Krishan Gokhale,
Rajaram Shastri supported the progressive efforts.

Shahu Ji was born on 26 July in
the year 1874 as Yeshwantrao Ghatge. He was the eldest son of Narayan Dinkarrao
Ghatke also called Appasaheb Ghatge and his wife Radhabai,. Narayan Dinkarrao
Ghatke was the head of Kagal and his wife was the daughter of the Raja of
Mudhol that's in today's Karnataka state.. Narayan Dinkarrao Ghatke was Regent
to Kohlapur State, so lived in Laxminivas Palace in Kohlapur where Yeshwantrao
Ghatge was born.

Sahu Ji
Maharaj lost his father at the age of 12 years and his mother when he was only
three years. Shahu received his earlier education under the care of his father.
As luck would have it Yeshwantrao Ghatge when a child of only 10 years, he was
adopted by Anandibai, the widow of Chhatarpati Maharaja Shivaji IV ( Narayanarao) of Kolhapur on March 17th,
1884. He ascended to the throne of
Kohlapur Chhatrapati and was given the name as
Chhatar Pati Sahu Ji Maharaj. Grown up Sahu Ji Maharaj was over five feet
and nine inches in height and bore majestic appearance of a real Maratha king. Wrestling
was one of the favorite sports of Chhatrapati

Shahu Ji Maharaj was married to Laxshmibaisaheba
on 1st, April1891 then only
11 years old bride. She was daughter of a Maratha nobleman Shri Meharban
Gunajirao Khanvilkar from Baroda having blood relation with Chhatrapati of
Satara .Sahu couple was blessed with four children.

The Maharaj came in cotact with Dr B.R. Ambedkar when they
were introduced by Dattoba Pawar and Dittoba Dalvi (artist) and their association lost till the
sudden end of shahu Ji Maharaj in 1922. Sahu Ji was greatly impressed by his
revolutionary ideas. Maharaj Ji always
lent helping hands by all means to any body from untouchables found in
distress. He met Dr B.R. Ambedkar a number of times during 1917-1921. When Dr
Ambedkar expressed his desire to start a fortnightly newspaper to bring about
an awakening among Dalits Sahu Ji Maharaj denoted Rs2,500.00 for this noble
cause. Dr Ambedkar started “ Mooknayak”
(Leader of the Dumb) on 31st
January ,1920. Also when Dr Ambedkar
faced financial problems in completion of his for studies in September 1921.
Sahu Ji sent Rs750.00 with assurance to Dr Ambedkar that he can write for any
such help to him any time. Again Sahu Ji Maharaj sent a cheque worth Rs1500.00
to Dr Ambedkar at his London address on 5th October 1921. When Mooknayak landed in financial distressed
Shahu Ji Maharaj pulled it out by donating Rs750.00 in January 1921and
Rs1000.00 on 21st
Febuary,1921. The first conference of
untouchables was organized under leadership of Shahu Ji Maharaj (21-22 March)
1920 at Mangaon Kohlapur , Dr Ambedkar was Chairman. The Maharaja told the
gathering that they had found a leader in Dr Ambedkar who will work for their
amelioration.

Shahu Ji
Maharaj’s qualities of head and heart earned him honorary LLD from Cambridge
University and ; G.C.S.I; G.C.V.O; G.C.I.E; titles from Queen Victoria, Duke of Co naught & Empiral Darbar
Respectively. As per the law of the nature who so ever has born is to die. Some
people live for others and they are remembered ages after their demise.
Satarpati Ji Maharaj suddenly passed away on 6th May, 1922 at a
prime age of 48 years. He has left
indelible mark in the history of India. He worked with dedication, strength,
intelligent and exerted his authority despite many hurdles. He shall go in the
history of Indian Dalit empowerment

DALIT WORD NEED BE UNDERSTOOD PROPERLY. iT MEANS BROKEN.DEPRIVEDa BROKEN SERIAL DOES NOT GERMINATE SO WAS THE CONDITION OF DALITS VIZ.OBCS,STS. ST,CONVERTED MINORITIES.THESE PEOPLE WERE WERE DIVIDED IN THE NAME OF DIVISION OF LABOUR,BUT ACTUALLY THEIR DIVISION WAS DIVISION OF LABOURERS.CASTES WERE CREATED TO DIVIDE THEM IN A WAY THAT THEY NEVER GET UNITED TO CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR DIVIDERS NAMELY BRAHMANS. SEE THE IGNORANCE OF OBC CASTES THAT THEY NEVER TOOK THEM AS SHUDRAS, WHICH THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE MANU DIVISION OF HINDUS. SC ARE ACTUALLY OUT CASTES WITH NO CASTE ASSIGNED TO THEM,THEIR DHARMA WAS ONLY SERVICE TO OTHERS AND THEIR LABOUR AS HATE,ABUSES,JUTHAN( LEFT OVER) MAY EKING OUT THEIR LIVING FROM FORESTS AWAY FROM HUMAN HABITATION. DALIT WORD WAS DEVISED BY MEN OF VISION FROM AMONG THEM WITH A HOPE THAT ALL THOSE DEPRIVED PEOPLE WAS BE REPRESENTED BY SINGLE WORD.SO BE NOT AFTER WORD BUT SPIRIT OF UNITY,IF YOU ARE A DALIT,IF NOT YOUR OPPOSITION IS JUSTIFIED,I DONOT MIND.

DALIT WORD NEED BE UNDERSTOOD PROPERLY. iT MEANS BROKEN.DEPRIVEDa BROKEN SERIAL DOES NOT GERMINATE SO WAS THE CONDITION OF DALITS VIZ.OBCS,STS. ST,CONVERTED MINORITIES.THESE PEOPLE WERE WERE DIVIDED IN THE NAME OF DIVISION OF LABOUR,BUT ACTUALLY THEIR DIVISION WAS DIVISION OF LABOURERS.CASTES WERE CREATED TO DIVIDE THEM IN A WAY THAT THEY NEVER GET UNITED TO CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR DIVIDERS NAMELY BRAHMANS. SEE THE IGNORANCE OF OBC CASTES THAT THEY NEVER TOOK THEM AS SHUDRAS, WHICH THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE MANU DIVISION OF HINDUS. SC ARE ACTUALLY OUT CASTES WITH NO CASTE ASSIGNED TO THEM,THEIR DHARMA WAS ONLY SERVICE TO OTHERS AND THEIR LABOUR AS HATE,ABUSES,JUTHAN( LEFT OVER) MAY EKING OUT THEIR LIVING FROM FORESTS AWAY FROM HUMAN HABITATION. DALIT WORD WAS DEVISED BY MEN OF VISION FROM AMONG THEM WITH A HOPE THAT ALL THOSE DEPRIVED PEOPLE WAS BE REPRESENTED BY SINGLE WORD.SO BE NOT AFTER WORD BUT SPIRIT OF UNITY,IF YOU ARE A DALIT,IF NOT YOUR OPPOSITION IS JUSTIFIED,I DONOT MIND.

Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar returned to India from London in 1917 due to expiry of scholarship by Maharaja Of Baroda Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar.was introduced to Sahu Ji Maharaj by Dattoba Pawar and Dattoba Dalvi in 1920.Sahu ji Maharaj donated Rs 2500/- to Dr.Baba Saheb to start Mooknayak fortnightly magazine The Mooknayak fortnightly magazine was launched on 31January 1920 .Sahu Ji Maharaj organised (21-22 March,1920) the first Conference of untouchables under the chairmanship of Baba Saheb. Here Sahu Ji Maharaj told the Depressed Classes that they have found a leader in Dr. Ambedkar,who will work for their amelioration. There after( 5 July,1920) Dr.Ambedka again went to London to resume his studies. He Joined London School Of Economics and Political Sciences and Gray's INN( 30 sept,1920). . But Dr. Ambedkar was continuously in touch with Sahu Ji Maharaj even from London,besides his other comrades. Sahu Ji Maharaj passed away on 6th May 1922.

The fact given here have solid authentic sources. W&S of Baba Sahib Dr. Ambedkar in about 22 volumes published by Maharashtra Government is a treasure source.Internet is an other source . having subject article from learned authors,Books,periodicals etc.

The fact given here have solid authentic sources. W&S of Baba Sahib Dr. Ambedkar in about 22 volumes published by Maharashtra Government is a treasure source.Internet is an other source . having subject article from learned authors,Books,periodicals etc.